School Days for the Grade School Crowd

Though summer is still upon us, it is time to begin preparing our children for the start of yet another school year — both mentally and physically. Some kids are raring to go, eager to go school shopping, looking forward to the return of structured days and the busy classroom social scene, while others are worrying about fitting in, facing a new teacher and the potential for social gaffs in front of an audience of critical peers. In either case, as parents, we are faced with the task of helping to make the transition as smooth as possible. Here are a few books that may help to introduce the back-to-school mentality — with a bit of humor thrown in to make it more palatable:

Amelia’s Notebook by Marissa Moss: Amelia documents her feelings about starting school, moving, and having a bossy older sister in this journal-format story that will resonate with nine-year-old girls everywhere.

First Grade Stinks! by Mary Ann Rodman: Haley is excited about starting first grade, but her first day is not at all what she expected. No circle time? No chocolate ice-cream? There is only one recess?!!! When Haley decides that first grade stinks, her teacher, Ms. Gray, introduces her to joy of learning to read a book on her own and Haley starts to feel sorry for all of the poor kindergartners.

Homework by Arthur Yorinks: Tony has decided to go to bed without doing his homework – again! While he sleeps, his unruly school supplies decide to take matters into their own “hands” and finish the homework for him. Their outrageous homework performance has an unexpected result, inspiring Tony to take action.

Leon and the Spitting Image by Allen Kurzweil: Leon is worried because his new teacher, Miss Hagmeyer, requires that each of her students produce a perfectly stitched “animale” each month in order to pass her class. Leon, who is less than adept at fine motor skills, fears that he will be stuck in fourth grade for the rest of his life! When the black-wigged, black-cloaked, creepy teacher assigns the final project, Leon works night and day, but his Miss Hagmeyer look-alike doll somehow takes on a voodoo-like magic, with humorous results. The story’s wit and quirky characters will appeal to Roald Dahl fans.

Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth by Alison McGhee: It is the first day of first grade and the teacher looks harmless, but the student in this story knows better because a second grader has told her all about the purple-tongued alien who steels the teeth of earthling children posing as Mrs. Watson. Can our heroine keep her first loose tooth a secret?

The Wheels on the School Bus by Mary-Alice Moore: The ever-popular childhood song, “The Wheels on the Bus”, has been modified for the school bus crowd, offering up a rollicking ride featuring students, a librarian, teachers, and other familiar school staff in this humorous adaptation.